An Inside Day

Building the deck started this morning at 9:00am

I know nothing of construction, but I would think that the concrete

footings should be ON a concrete slab or concrete pads

not just sat on the damp ground.

Won't they settle into the earth and the deck along with them? 

Less than 8 hours later and the basic deck is almost completed 

See the posts for the railing cut off?

The old guy has the white plastic covers all ready to put on

I took the living room drapes down.  Windexed the windows and put them back up, along with the cafe' sheer on the bottom.  The drapes stated, "Dry Clean Only"--like that's going to happen on my budget.  Into the dryer, with a dryer sheet and they came out, sans cat fur and smelled fresh.

I like as much outside light as possible coming into this house.  In the summer, I keep the blinds down to the second window.  In the winter, with the light coming at a different angle, I pull the blinds all the way up and put a cafe' curtain across the bottom window so Tami can't see in!!!   With inside lights on for more hours than in the summer months, that sheer affords me a bit more privacy--or so I think.  They may be pulled back during the day so my purry furry's can see out.

Luckily I had purchased an extra tension rod a few years ago because,

one of the ones I was using decided to fall apart last spring when I took them down.

Pearl gave me her meatloaf recipe a couple of days ago, so I decided to use the last of my "free" ground chuck and make it for supper.  BLAH!!!  She uses a can of drained, diced tomatoes in hers and crushed up crackers.  I always put an envelope of Dry Onion Soup mix in mine, 1/4 cup Ketchup, and oatmeal for the filler.  My meat loaf always held together quite well--I could slice it.  Pearl's fell apart when I tried to get it out of the bread loaf pan.  Hers tasted pretty bland to me, but I have some great meat sauce my sister canned and I spread a lot of that on the meat.

The potato I baked to go along with the meat loaf was very good, however. :-)  

This for desert.  I do love this fruit!  Even when it thaws, it doesn't get mushy.  They had it on sale at Meijer the other day.  Yes--you see sugar on the unsweetened fruit!!!  You probably would have laughed at the inordinate amount of butter I put on a baked potato.  LOL.  Don't judge me.  I am old!  I am going to enjoy!

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As I read through my blogging buddies posts--I realize just how odd I am--compared to the more "normal" human woman.

Most "people" arise at an early time of morning.  If I get out of bed before 9:00am, I consider it early.  One worries that she could stay in her robe all day.  I never even think about the fact that, if I have no where to go, I am in my cotton, knee length nightie until 11:00am.  I live alone.  I spend 2 hours on this computer in the morning--my nightie is comfy.

Another widow is trying to figure out how to get the feeling of intimate comfort into her life. I don't miss sex in the less tiniest bit!  As I look back on my life, I don't know if I ever enjoyed it!  To me, sex was always a "trade-off" for something.  It made the guy I was with happier and when he was happy, he was nicer to me.  Oh...and I was a really good actress!!!  I had more than one guy tell me that I was the best sexual partner he had ever had!!!   

I think perhaps that is why Fred and I got along so well.  He was nearly impotent from the day I met him.  After his heart attack and surgery, he was so relieved when I wasn't disappointed that we could no longer have "sex".  He gave me more love and intimacy than any man I've ever known. 

At this stage of my life, the thought of sex makes me ill.  I would not want anyone to see this saggy, scarred body!  I can barely look at it in the mirror when I get out of the shower!  It would be way too much work on my part--because most of men my age are impotent, but they think, I would be the one to renew their youthful vigor.  My arthritic fingers, painful shoulder, brusitic elbow and stiff neck tells me--I am not going through that much work or pain to give him 33 seconds of fun!!!!!

Yes--I miss the comfort of  hugs, kisses and being held, but....unless I could find another Fred, I am not going to have those comforts.

Another blogger friend tells of her hours getting her home and herself ready for winter.  I think I must really be lazy or not aware as the casual way I treat winter.  I have many afghans--hanging over the back of the couch, or chair--looking all ready for use.  I never use any of them.  I did put the thermal light-weight blanket back on the bed, between light bedspread and sheets, but that's about it.  I don't have an electric blanket or heated throws.

I did swap out my summer and winter clothes--but that was just for the "good" clothes--sweaters instead of tops.  I go barefooted in the house most of the year.  Perhaps a pair of cotton sox once in awhile.  I keep the furnace thermostat set at 73 degrees--summer and winter.

She has brought out her scarves, mittens, hats, boots, coats, for winter.  I have a scarf--a decorative one that hangs around the collar of my winter coat.  I never wear a hat--never.  I rarely pull on a pair of gloves--more for fashion than for warmth.  I only wear my boots if the snow is above my shoe tops, LOL.

I do prepare my house, in that I make sure all my windows are closed tightly and locked and I do insulate my back door, but only because it has a leak along the bottom.  

Most of my blog buddies love to read.  They curl up in their chair, under their cozy afghan and read.  Or they read in bed at night.  My bedside table holds a lamp with a 20 watt bulb in it.  The only thing I do in my bedroom, is change into my nightie, say my prayers and go to sleep.  The only thing I do in my chair, is cross stitch, crochet and watch TV.

Some are bemoaning the fact that their outside activities, things they go to, will be curtailed by the winter snow and weather.  Since I don't go many place any time of year, winter weather never bothers me.  In fact, I would much rather have a blizzard and be snowed-in for two days, then have to worry about humidity and an approaching severe storm.  

I am not a porch-sitter in the spring or summer, so not being able to do that doesn't matter to me when fall and winter chills come along.    As for taking a walk--I rather enjoy a walk down the block with snow falling on my head, than with sweat from the humidity running down my face.

Others post or tell of the wonderful meals they prepare. I can't even begin to explain in a way you'd understand, my total disinterest in food.  I eat when my stomach growls and reminds me...or when I get a bit dizzy because my blood sugar is low.  More often, it is a piece of cheese grabbed from the refrigerator.  A peanut butter sandwich on a croissant because I keep no bread in the house and croissants can be quickly thawed in the microwave and the dough is much lighter than bread.  

I eat whatever is near and easy.  I do, at times, crave a nice Subway sandwich, but a lot of times, I crave popcorn with milk on it.  I eat more fruit and vegetables than I ever have in my life.  I have no appetite, so...I don't eat much.  I don't enjoy, going out to eat, because I take a few bites and I am full.  I probably could exist on warm milk with Nestle's Quik and toast dunked in it.  These eating habits will probably catch up with me one day, but right now...............................

So--I have always known that I was "different" than most of my friends--in the way I think and the way I react to things.  That never bothered me.  Who wants to be like the crowd?  Right?  Now, as I grow older and am alone, I have more time to compare and to think and..............

I guess I am just me.  Different than most.  Not interested in what others find interesting.  Not really caring.   It makes me wonder if I am missing out on life.
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I gotta go and get some warm milk and cocoa--that greasy meatloaf has made me nauseous!!